In the OPTN lung allocation system, every lung transplant candidate age 12 and older receives a lung allocation score, which, combined with blood type, and the geographic distance between the candidates and the hospital where the lung donor is located, is used to determine priority for receiving a lung transplant when a donor lung becomes available. Lungs from pediatric and adolescent donors are offered first to pediatric and adolescent transplant candidates before they are offered to adults. The following medical information is used to calculate a lung allocation score from 0 to 100 for each transplant candidate:
Forced Vital Capacity
Pulmonary Artery Pressure
Oxygen at rest
Age
Body Mass Index
Diabetes
NYHA Functional Classification
6-minute walk distance
Assisted ventilation
Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure
Serum Creatinine
Disease Diagnosis
(OPTN Glossary May 2021)
The lung allocation score is used to determine priority for receiving a lung transplant when a donor lung is available. (Alliance Terminology & Data Resources May 2021)
The scoring system used to measure illness severity in the allocation of lungs to candidates 12 years and older. (OPTN Policy Definitions May 2021)